Iran is one of the most loaded topics on the planet right now, and in this episode, Nicole (liberal) and Jolene (conservative) try to talk about it without pretending it’s simple. We recorded on Thursday, March 5th, fully aware that modern conflict moves fast and anything we say could age in a week. So this isn’t a “perfect take.” It’s us slowing the conversation down and naming what we know, what we don’t, and what we’re tempted to assume.

Jolene opens with three hot takes, starting with the language. Five days in, she hesitates to call it a “war” and frames it as a conflict, not to minimise it, but because words shape expectations. “War” implies a timeline, a scale, and a level of commitment Americans are deeply wary of after Iraq and Afghanistan. She also wrestles with the tension between short-term necessity and long-term fallout, including what it signals to allies and adversaries if the U.S. hesitates, and what it costs if the U.S. gets pulled into something with no clear end.

Nicole also gets stuck on the war versus conflict question, because labels shape what people tolerate and demand. We talk about the strategic side too, including the role of allies, technology, and how modern warfare has shifted toward precision, drones, cyber, intelligence, and targeted strikes. But underneath all of it is the question that never goes away: what is the plan? “Winning” is not clean, and moral certainty can become a shortcut that avoids the hard questions while real people pay the price.

We also centre the part that can’t be treated like a chessboard: the Iranian people. We talk about the human cost already paid by protestors and ordinary citizens under an oppressive regime, and the uncomfortable questions about intervention, democracy, and what happens after a regime is weakened.

Finally, we dig into the media layer and why “stay curious” matters more than ever. What are you watching? What are you worried about? What do you think the U.S. responsibility is here, if any? Drop your thoughts in the comments and keep it respectful.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Welcome

00:25 Iran Conflict

01:10 Jolene Three Hot Takes

03:31 Allies And Drones

04:16 No Long Term Plan

05:16 Human Cost And Protest

07:09 How We Got Here

10:25 Be Curious Learn History

12:38 Kurds And Civil War Risk

14:58 War Powers And Congress

18:22 Moral Cost Of Strikes

21:10 What Happens After

23:35 Succession and Assassination

23:54 Intel Infiltration Strategy

25:40 Iran Threats and Trump

26:27 Israel Discourse and Antisemitism

27:15 Hamas and Campus Protests

29:15 Iran Voices on Instagram

31:05 Media Fear and Polling

33:38 Who Builds a New Middle East

35:48 Would You Rather War Outcomes

37:50 Noem Jet and Lewandowski

41:36 Podcast Wrap

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Instagram: @hemdad.nazari

https://youtu.be/e9dljIL4rBk?si=q0Jjj5oN2uDcJPPg

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

Politics lately feels less like governing and more like bad behavior. In this episode, we ask a simple question: where did basic political decorum go, and why does it feel like the whole country is running on outrage and adrenaline?

We talk about congressional hearings that feel more like theatre than truth-seeking, including the Pam Bondi exchange during the Epstein hearings. Tough questions are part of the job, but the posturing, rehearsed lines, and made-for-camera moments leave us wondering who the real audience is. When oversight becomes performance, it doesn’t just waste time. It teaches the public that politics is about winning the clip, not solving problems.

We also unpack how modern media and social platforms amplify the worst incentives. Sensational headlines, rage-bait framing, and constant “gotcha” coverage keep everyone stressed, divided, and exhausted. We ask whether changes like removing cameras from hearings or tightening rules could reduce the made-for-TV drama, while still protecting transparency.

Finally, we look at what “adult discourse” could sound like again, including our reaction to Marco Rubio’s Munich speech, and the bigger tension between relatability and responsibility in leadership. We also talk about the double standard women face in public life, where forcefulness is praised in men and punished in women. If you’re exhausted too, tell us in the comments. What would you reward in a leader if the algorithm wasn’t in the room?

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Decorum In Politics in Disappearing

02:07 Hearings As Theater

02:26 Tabloid Media Machine

06:08 Fixing The Congressional Hearing Format

07:41 Pam Bondi Performing For Trump

09:59 Rubio Munich Adult In Room

12:34 JD Vance Speech Comparison

13:17 Rubio Then And Now

14:46 What Calm Leadership Feels Like

16:10 Outrage Gets Attention

16:42 Trump Reads The Room

19:22 Authentic Not Rude

21:09 Women And Double Standards

26:13 Rage Bait And Civility

26:59 Modeling Respectful Debate

28:16 Would You Rather Segment

30:56 Closing Thoughts

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

https://www.foxnews.com/media/how-pam-bondi-democrats-turned-hearing-hysteria-right-front-jeffrey-epsteins-victims

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/

We’re sitting down with Brad Porteus, the creator of Bridge Grades, to talk about the one thing American politics is starving for right now: real collaboration. If you are exhausted by tribal “pick a side” thinking, this conversation is a breath of fresh air, because it is not about who is right. It is about who can actually work with people they disagree with.

Brad explains what Bridge Grades is and why he built it. Think of it as a report card for Congress, or like Rotten Tomatoes for politicians. Using objective third-party data, Bridge Grades scores members of Congress from 0 to 100 based on how collaboratively or divisively they govern. The big idea is simple but powerful: ideology and collaboration are independent variables. You can be conservative and still be a bridge-builder. You can be progressive and still be a divider.

We also get into the uncomfortable part. Are citizens rewarding the behaviour they claim they want? Brad talks about how American politics has become identity warfare, and how incentives now favour viral moments, party loyalty, and public dunking over the slow, unglamorous work of governing.

If you are looking for a better way to evaluate politicians beyond red vs blue, this episode will give you a new lens.

Check out Bridge Grades here: https://www.bridgegrades.org/ and tell us what you think. Who are the real bridgers in Congress, and what would it take for voters to start rewarding collaboration at the ballot box?

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Introduction

01:08 Explaining Bridge Grades

02:44 Brad's Background and Inspiration

06:09 Challenges in Political Engagement

08:46 The Role of Media and Algorithms

19:21 Grading System and Data Sources of Bridge Grades

26:12 Encouraging Bipartisanship

32:09 Exploring Alternatives to the Two-Party System

32:52 The Dream of Normalizing Bridging Politics

33:27 Challenges in Changing Voting Behavior

34:03 The Role of Bridge Grades in Political Campaigns

34:35 Reinviting Disengaged Voters

36:23 The Two-Punch Strategy for Political Change

37:32 Building a Public Utility for Political Transparency

38:16 The Builders Movement and Bridging Efforts

39:00 Evaluating Politicians' Actions and Rhetoric

41:27 Encouraging Bipartisanship in Congress

47:25 Hope for a Collaborative Future in Politics

49:52 Good for the Soul: Live Music and Gen X Memoirs

51:58 Would You Rather

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Bridge Grades:

https://www.bridgegrades.org/

Good For The Soul:

Remember to go and see live music!

https://book-shelfie.com/roll-with-it/

https://liberationbway.com/

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/